The Public Library Association (PLA) is a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
Contact us any time you have questions. Office hours are 8:30 AM–4:30 PM Central, Monday–Friday. If no one is available when you call, please leave a message. All staff have voice mail and will respond as quickly as possible.
Mailing Address:
Public Library Association
225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60601
Telephone Toll Free:
800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752)
Staff extensions are the last four digits of their direct line listed below.
Fax:
312-280-5029
PLA 2024 Conference Contact Information
Many commonly asked questions are answered on the PLA 2024 Conference website. Here are some suggested contacts:
Registration & Housing
Contact Maritz Global Events at PLA@maritz.com or 864-515-6689. Maritz Global Events representatives are available Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM Central.
For questions about group registration and housing, contact PLAGROUPS@maritz.com or 864-990-2296.
For questions about exhibitor registration and housing, contact PLAEXH@maritz.com or 854-990-2296.
For login help, please email loginhelp@ala.org or contact the ALA Member Relations & Services Center at 800-545-2433. Customer service representatives are available Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM Central.
Membership
ALA and PLA membership is managed by the ALA Member Relations & Services Center. Customer service representatives are available Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM Central.
You can join or renew/rejoin/add to your membership several different ways:
- Use ALA's secure online form;
- Print and fill out a membership form and fax or mail it in; or
- Call the ALA Member Relations & Services Center at 800-545-2433.
Direct your membership questions to the ALA Member Relations & Services Center at membership@ala.org or 800-545-2433.
For login help, please email loginhelp@ala.org or contact the ALA Member Relations & Services Center at 800-545-2433.
If you need to reset your password, go to https://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=login&template=/Security/NoPassword.cfm.
Exhibits
Visit our Exhibitor Reservation Website or contact Carmen Guerrero, Corcoran Expositions, 312-265-9644 or pla@corcexpo.com.
For questions about exhibitor registration and housing, contact PLAEXH@maritz.com or 854-515-6689.
Sponsorships
For PLA 2024 sponsorship information, please contact Melissa Faubel Johnson, PLA Conference Manager, at 312-280-5022 or mfaubel@ala.org.
Press/Media
Contact Larra Clark, Deputy Director, Public Library Association, 312-280-5861 or lclark@ala.org; and Eliana Kleiman, Communications Associate, Public Library Association, 312-280-5018 or ekleiman@ala.org.
For all other conference questions, please contact placonference@ala.org or 800-545-2433 x5PLA (x5752).
Who to Ask About…
- Administration and PLA Board – Mary Davis Fournier
- Committees and Governance – Talaisha Whitaker
- Communications – Eliana Tang Kleiman
- Conferences and Continuing Education:
- ALA Annual Conference/PLA Conference Educational Programming – placonference@ala.org
- Exhibits – KGJ Consulting, LLC
- Sponsorships – KGJ Consulting, LLC
- Webinars – plawebinars@ala.org
- Customer Service – pla@ala.org
- Data Initiatives – Sara Goek
- Project Outcome – info@projectoutcome.org
- Benchmark – plabenchmark@ala.org
- Digital Literacy – Larra Clark
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice – Mary Hirsh
- External Partnerships – Larra Clark
- Family Engagement – Mary Hirsh
- Grants Management – Mary Hirsh
- Leadership Initiatives – Mary Hirsh
- Marketing and Membership – Samantha Lopez
- Media/Public Relations – ALA Press Center
- Publications – Kathleen Hughes
- Websites/Technology – Steven Hofmann
PLA Staff Directory
Mary-Clare Bietila (she/her)
Program Manager, Programming Initiatives
312-280-5859
mbietila@ala.org
Responsible for project management of PLA special projects and initiatives.
Larra Clark (she/her)
Deputy Director, Policy
312-280-5861
lclark@ala.org
Responsible for working with the PLA staff, board, and external organizations to leverage and support research and outcome measurement, digital literacy, and partnerships.
Mary Davis Fournier (she/her)
Executive Director
312-280-5056
mfournier@ala.org
Responsible for directing activities of PLA. Coordinates policy implementation and strategic planning, prepares PLA budgets, serves as ex-officio member of PLA's Board of Directors, and serves as official contact for external organizations.
Abigail Gadomski (she/her)
Beacon Hill Staffing Group
Program Coordinator, Continuing Education
312-280-5858
agadomski@ala.org
Responsible for customer service support of PLA webinars, continuing education programs, and conferences.
Sara Goek (she/her)
Project Manager, Data and Research
312-280-5841
sgoek@ala.org
Responsible for supporting PLA’s data and research efforts, and developing related training content.
Mary Hirsh (she/her)
Deputy Director, Programs
312-280-5039
mhirsh@ala.org
Responsible for development, management, and coordination of program activities, including grants management and partnerships.
Steven Hofmann (he/him)
Digital Product Manager
312-280-5047
shofmann@ala.org
Responsible for management of PLA web and digital media initiatives and programs. Heads development of PLA web properties and implementation of web-based education.
Kathleen M. Hughes (she/her)
Manager, Publications
312-280-4028
khughes@ala.org
Responsible for Public Libraries magazine and serves as its editor, and manages PLA's publications program.
Katina Jones (she/her)
Program Manager, Evaluation and Assessment
312-280-5867
kjones@ala.org
Responsible for supporting Project Outcome, Benchmark, PLA's annual topical surveys, and other data and evaluation work.
Eliana Tang Kleiman (she/they)
Communications Associate
312-280-5018
ekleiman@ala.org
Responsible for PLA social media, member news, press releases, and assisting with general communications.
Samantha Lopez (she/her)
Manager, Marketing and Membership
312-280-5857
slopez@ala.org
Responsible for all PLA marketing activities, including initiatives, continuing education opportunities, and the biennial PLA Conference. Manages all membership promotion, retention, and engagement efforts.
Angela Maycock (she/her)
Manager, Continuing Education
312-280-5024
amaycock@ala.org
Responsible for oversight of the development and implementation of PLA's educational programs at PLA Conference and ALA conferences, as well as regional educational programs; and for creation of online educational programs, distance learning programs, and other new educational offerings for PLA.
Talaisha Whitaker (she/her)
Program Coordinator, Governance
312-280-5021
twhitaker@ala.org
Responsible for governance support and other administrative support.
KGJ Consulting, LLC
Melissa Faubel Johnson, CMP (she/her)
Meeting and Special Events Planner
312-280-5022
mfaubel@ala.org
Responsible for management of exhibits, site review, hotel contracts, and major events and programs at PLA Conference, including opening and closing sessions, luncheons, as well as major events such as the PLA President’s Breakfast at the ALA Annual Conference.